A method of cooling and drying a wire utilizing an induced air wipe

ABSTRACT

A process of cooling and drying a wire in preparation for the extrusion of an insulated coating thereon wherein a high velocity stream of coolant is passed along and around the wire. The flowing stream of coolant induces a flow of drying medium which thereby accomplishes the drying step.

United States Patent 1191 Armstrong 1 1 A METHOD OF COOLING AND DRYING A WIRE UTILIZING AN INDUCED AIR WIPE [75] Inventor: Robert T. Armstrong, Villa Rica,

[73] Assignee: South Wire Company, Carrollton,

Ga. I

[22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1971 [21] App1.No.: 121,456

52 US. (:1. ..29/527.4, 62/64, 62/374, 117/49, 118/73 51 1111.01. ..B23p 17/00 [58] Field of Search.....134/l5; l17/49,128; 118/73; 34/13; 62/64, 374; 29/527.4; 266/3 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,370,959 Holden ..1 17/49 UX Mar. 27, 1973 2,624,178 1/1953 Bedson ..(12/64 X 3,410,734 1 1/1968 Taylor ..266/3 R X 2,579,098 12/1951 Scofield ..l34/l5 X 3,277,656 10/1966 Hill et al. ..62/64 X Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst Assistant Examiner-D. C. Reiley, Ill Attorney-Van C. Wilks [57] ABSTRACT A process of cooling and drying a wire in preparation for the extrusion of an insulated coating thereon wherein a high velocity stream of coolant is passed along and around the wire. The flowing stream of coolant induces a flow of drying medium which thereby accomplishes the drying step.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures sum 1 or 2 PATENTEDHAR27 ma INVENTOR RwERT T. ARMSTRONG A METHOD OF COOLING AND DRYING A WIRE UTILIZING AN INDUCED AIR WIPE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention relates to a method for the cooling and drying of wire after it has undergone drawing and annealing processes.

In the manufacture of wire in a tandem process the wire is drawn and annealed in the first stage and is then directed through an extruder which applies insulation. Before any extruding can take place the wire must be cooled and dried because uncontrolled heat and moisture interfere with extruding. With the use of a liquid coolant in the annealing and cooling stages it becomes necessary to find some method of drying the wire without heating it again. It is one object of my invention to cool the wire after leaving the annealing process and prior to the extrusion process by means of a liquid coolant.

Another object of my invention is to dry the wire coming from the cooling process by a method other than a prior art mechanical wipe and thereby to prepare it for the extruder.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an improved method of cooling and drying the wire that allows for a higher rate of production on tandem lines. I

Still a further object of my invention is to provide mechanical and electrical control between the extruder and drawing machine which control eliminates variations in the tension of the wire between the drawing and extruding steps.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent in the examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which respectively describe and illustrate my invention. The drawings follow wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through the water injecting air wipe of my invention,

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a tandem wire production line for drawing and extruding, and

FIG. 3 illustrates my water injecting air wipe in conjunction with an annealing drainage pit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As wire being produced on a tandem line, (that is, a process which both draws the rod into wire and insulates the finished wire) exits the drawing apparatus and enters the annealing apparatus the temperature of the wire is raised in order to accomplish the anealing-see FIG. 2. The wire then exits the annealing apparatus and is directed toward the extruder. However, before insulation can be applied by the extruder, the wire must first be cooled since excess heat tends to burn the insulation if the insulation is applied while the wire is still too hot. In rapid production, the most efficient means of cooling is usually a liquid coolant. Therefore, the wire is liquid cooled upon exit from the annealing apparatus. In preparation for extruding, control of the moisture factor of the wire is equally as important as control of the heat factor. For best results in applying insulation the wire must be dry. Moisture on the wire prevents the insulation from adhering properly. As the wire exits the liquid coolant it must pass through a drying stage prior to entering the extruder. Mechanical wipes of the prior art type such as rags or rubber discs prove unsatisfactory for reasons including frequently required replacement of parts, production rate limita tions, friction problems and others. Mechanical wipes also require tension control. Further, monitoring of the tension applied by the wipe is required in order to coordinate extruding rate with varying wire speed caused by such tension. A number of electrical connections 22 (see FIG. 2) working in conjunction with each other between the extruder and drawing machine allow for electrical speed control and electrical coordination control by creating proportional speeds between the extruder and drawing machine in response to the effects of such tension. Further, mechanical wipes do not remove the liquid coolant to a satisfactory extent during high speed wire production. By use of an air wipe, replacement of parts is reduced and tension is eliminated plus high speed production is enhanced.

Since the prior art cooling and drying processes are in sequence, the union of the two would provide for a more efficient operation. My invention provides for this union.

My cooling method consists of pressurized coolant (see FIG. 1) pumped in through coolant supply inlet 4 following along the path between adjustable venturi nozzle 3 and annealer tube extension walls 2. Due to restriction of the passage between venturi nozzle 3 and annealer tube extension walls 2 the coolant velocity is increased at said restriction. The coolant under pressure flows through annealer extension tube 2 in a direction opposite to the movement of wire 1, through coolant outlet 10 and is then drained off into pit 25 of the annealing apparatus (see FIG. 3).

As the coolant passes between the tapered walls of annealer tube extension 2 and adjustable venturi nozzle 3 and then moves on through the annealer tube extension 2, the high speed of the coolant flow creates a partial vacuum at point 5. The result is that a high velocity stream of air is drawn down passage 13 in venturi nozzle 3 to point 5 and is carried out with coolant through the cooling apparatus. With the continuous high pressure coolant flow there is created a continuous vacuum effect at partial vacuum point 5. This continuous vacuum effect creates a continuous high velocity air stream through passage 13. This high velocity air stream is moving in a direction opposite that of the wire 1. This opposite movement provides for a peeling back effect on all the moisture that tends to cling to the wire during cooling. This moisture is carried by the high velocity air stream towards point 5 and is then caught up in the coolant flow and is thereby removed with the coolant through the drain as previously described and as illustrated in FIG. 3. Coolant velocity, and subsequently air velocity, is controlled by the axial adjustment of venturi nozzle 3 by use of screw threads. Movement of this nozzle towards the left (as shown in FIG.1) provides for higher velocity of coolant flow and movement towards the right (as shown in FIG. 1) reduces the velocity of the air stream. After the high velocity air stream has removed any particles of coolant that tend to cling to the wire, the wire moves out of the adjustable venturi nozzle and is then directed through an additional air wipe 8 that has been put in tandem with the injector system 12 to remove any particles of moisture that might not be removed should the injector get out of adjustment. Compressed air is forced in through air passages 14 of secondary air wipe 8. This air flows through passages 14 and exits in such a way that it is concentrated at one point 15, this point being the center of wire 1. This flow tends to wipe any remaining coolant that clings to the wire 1 off the wire and said excess coolant is carried inside air wipe support housing 9. Here the coolant drains out drain and air exhaust 6 and drains into pit (see FIG. 3). Any additional air that should be required by the vacuum effect or any surplus air in housing 9, can freely pass through air ports 7. The wire then exits the secondary air wipe 8 with the moisture and temperature variations under control and properly prepared for extrusion. After the wire exits the secondary air wipe 8 it must pass over two rollers 28 which are connected to extension springs 18 which in turn eliminate variations in the tension of the wire 1.

I claim:

1. In a process of extruding an insulation coating onto a continuously advancing wire which has previously undergone the steps of drawing and annealing, the improvement comprising: cooling the wire immediately preceding the extrusion step by forcing a continuous high velocity stream of liquid to pass along and around the wire in a direction opposite completely that of the advancement of the wire, and substantially ompletely drying the wire by exposure to a continuous high velocity stream of a gaseous drying agent which moves in a direction opposite that of the advancement of the wire and which is induced by a pressure differential created by the high velocity liquid stream.

2. The process of claim 1 in which a second flow of drying gas is caused to flow in a direction opposite to that of the wire movement, the second flow of drying gas occurring subsequent to the first-mentioned flow of drying gas.

3. The process of claim 1 and further including the step of collecting the cooling liquid subsequent to the cooling step.

4. The process of cooling and drying a continuously advancing wire subsequent to the steps of drawing and annealing and prior to the step of extruding an insulation coating onto the wire comprising: directing a continuous stream of a liquid coolant under pressure in a direction along and around the wire and at a high velocity relative to the velocity of the wire, and substantially completely drying the wire by exposure to a continuous high velocity stream of a gaseous drying agent which is induced by the pressure differential created by the high velocity liquid stream.

5. A process of insulating a wire with an insulation coating comprising the steps of:

drawing a rod down into wire,

annealing the wire,

cooling the wire by forcing a continuous high velocity stream of liquid to pass along and completely around the wire in a direction opposite to that of the advancement of the wire, substantially completely drying the wire by exposure to a continuous high velocity stream of a gaseous drying agent which moves in a direction opposite that of the advancement of the wire and which is induced by a pressure differential created by the high velocity liquid stream, and subsequently extruding an insulation coating onto said wire. 6. The process of claim 2 wherein the second flow of drying gas in induced to flow under the force of a positive pressure. 

1. In a process of extruding an insulation coating onto a continuously advancing wire which has previously undergone the steps of drawing and annealing, the improvement comprising: cooling the wire immediately preceding the extrusion step by forcing a continuous high velocity stream of liquid to pass along and around the wire in a direction opposite completely that of the advancement of the wire, and substantially ompletely drying the wire by exposure to a continuous high velocity stream of a gaseous drying agent which moves in a direction opposite that of the advancement of the wire and which is induced by a pressure differential created by the high velocity liquid stream.
 2. The process of claim 1 in which a second flow of drying gas is caused to flow in a direction opposite to that of the wire movement, the second flow of drying gas occurring subsequent to the first-mentioned flow of drying gas.
 3. The process of claim 1 and further including the step of collecting the cooling liquid subsequent to the cooling step.
 4. The process of cooling and drying a continuously advancing wire subsequent to the steps of drawing and annealing and prior to the step of extruding an insulation coating onto the wire comprising: directing a continuous stream of a liquid coolant under pressure in a direction along and around the wire and at a high velocity relative to the velocity of the wire, and substantially completely drying the wire by exposure to a continuous high velocity stream of a gaseous drying agent which is induced by the pressure differential created by the high velocity liquid stream.
 5. A process of insulating a wire with an insulation coating comprising the steps of: drawing a rod down into wire, annealing the wire, cooling the wire by forcing a continuous high velocity stream of liquid to pass along and completely around the wire in a direction opposite to that of the advancement of the wire, substantially completely drying the wire by exposure to a continuous high velocity stream of a gaseous drying agent which moves in a direction opposite that of the advancement of the wire and which is induced by a pressure differential created by the high velocity liquid stream, and subsequently extruding an insulation coating onto said wire.
 6. The process of claim 2 wherein the second flow of drying gas in induced to flow under the force of a positive pressure. 